Custom home designed for a creative young family looking to blend in and stand out in a historic neighborhood.

Just a quick walk north from Bishop Arts in Oak Cliff is the historic neighborhood of Kidd Springs. Amongst the early 1900’s Craftsman homes our client found a vacant lot. A previous owner had torn down an American Foursquare style home only to abandon plans for a new boxy modern home. The client, a photographer, lawyer, and their son, quickly purchased the lot and commissioned O&A to design a new home that would pay respect to the neighboring homes and their inhabitants. The design process started with a study of proportion and scale, examining the adjacent houses, trees, and sun/wind paths. We wanted to create a contemporary residence that would feel appropriately scaled while nestled into the historic street, but also one that would be as creative and bold as the client. 

There was also a strong push to balance a bustling social and professional life with the desire for a quiet place to relax as a family. This led to conceptualizing the home around an interior courtyard, where the front yard would be a gathering place for neighbors, the front rooms a gathering place for friends and family, the courtyard a quiet haven, and the backyard an area for playing. Large windows and stained wooden door look onto a gallery wall creating a very public foyer that opens into a deceptively private main living room. The living room and kitchen are situated between the front yard and courtyard and serve as a retreat from the business of modern life by limiting views to the street and instead opening up to the interior courtyard. The kitchen was designed with entertaining and family life in mind. Large unfinished oak beams hang from the high ceiling and a neutral earthy palette is expressed through plaster, concrete, white oak cabinetry, and blackened steel. 

The dining room and staircase sit along the path back to the guest suite and attached carport, all with direct access to the courtyard. A gently arched ceiling and wood panels enclose the dining area and create an intimate space for dinners with friends. All other bedrooms including the primary suite are located on the second floor along with a secondary living room that serves as both a play room and stair landing. 

The exterior of the home was affectionately referred to as a “Texas Pagoda” because of its two tiered wrapping roof lines. O&A worked to keep the overall structure and form of the home simple and minimalist while still feeling organic and natural. Thermally modified wood planks with a black stain wrap the entirety of the house, except for a few moments of plaster or exposed CMU. The eaves of the home are large and the rafter tails left exposed similar to traditional craftsman style homes.